U.S. patent number 3,752,475 [Application Number 05/155,057] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-14 for axle-mounted wheel exercising device with spring resistance located centrally within the wheel.
Invention is credited to Arnold C. Ott.
United States Patent |
3,752,475 |
Ott |
August 14, 1973 |
AXLE-MOUNTED WHEEL EXERCISING DEVICE WITH SPRING RESISTANCE LOCATED
CENTRALLY WITHIN THE WHEEL
Abstract
An exercise wheel or appliance comprises, in combination with a
wheel which wheel is rotatable about a generally central axis of
generation therefor, spring means in operative association with the
wheel and axle for increasingly resisting rotation of the wheel
with and upon increasing rotation of the wheel.
Inventors: |
Ott; Arnold C. (Midland,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
22553959 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/155,057 |
Filed: |
June 21, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/127;
482/132 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
21/0004 (20130101); A63B 22/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
22/00 (20060101); A63B 22/20 (20060101); A63b
021/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/57R,83R,83A,82,79R,79A,79B,79C,79D,67,68,1R,84,57J
;128/25R,25B,57,60 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Kramer; Arnold W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An exercise device of the type described, said device adapted to
support the weight of the body of a user thereof, comprising:
i. a wheel;
ii. an axle mounted centrally for and through said wheel about
which said wheel rotates;
iii. said axle passing laterally through said wheel and extending
from each side of said wheel for a distance sufficient for each
laterally extending portion of said axle to be respectively grasped
and held in the hands of a user of the device so that said wheel
when said device is so grasped is between the hands of the user
and, when so held and employed for body support, said device is
adapted to be moved and rolled back and forth on and over a
supporting surface in a direction substantially parallel with the
torso of the user of the device;
iv. at least a single spring means central within the circumference
of the wheel in operative association with said wheel and axle for
increasingly resisting rotation of the wheel with and upon
increasing rotation of the wheel while said central axle is held
and grasped by the user so as to avoid rotation of said axle during
rotation of the wheel therearound;
v. mounting and affixing means on said wheel and on said axle for
connecting the outer and inner ends of said spring means
respectively to said wheel and said axle; with
vi. one and the inner end of each of said spring means secured to
and by the mounting and affixing means therefor on said axle;
vii. the other and the outer end of each of said spring means
secured to and by the mounting and affixing means therefor on said
wheel; and
viii. both said spring means and said axle and wheel mounting and
affixing means therefor disposed and positioned within the
circumference of the wheel and also within the side limits of the
central radial planar configuration of the wheel.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein
said means for increasingly resisting rotation of the wheel is a
spiral spring convolutely disposed about said axle and connected at
its ends to said wheel and axle.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein
said spiral spring has between about 3 and about 4 convolutions in
itself about and around said axle.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein
said spiral spring is affixed at its inner end disconnectably to
said axle and
said axle is removable from engagement with said spring and said
wheel.
5. A device according to claim 1, wherein
said axle is removable from said wheel.
6. A device according to claim 1, wherein
said wheel has a diameter of between about 5 and about 10
inches.
7. A device according to claim 1, wherein
said axle is disposed eccentrically in said wheel.
Description
DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF INVENTION
This invention concerns and pertains to a new and improved device
or appliance for use as an aid to or in conjunction with exercise
and physical conditioning.
In the art and practice of calesthenic physical conditioning, there
are many exercise patterns and practices that are followed. Popular
amongst these are so-called "push-ups, " in which the person doing
the exercise lies supine, stomach-down on a floor or deck with
hands in direct correlation (at least approximately) under
shoulders and then, with body as rigid as possible (with,
preferably, stomach and knees never actually touching the floor),
pushes himself up from the floor to the highest possible elevation
with the arms (using the body in such position); then returns
himself as close as figuratively possible to the floor or deck only
to resume the exercise as many times as capability may permit or as
may be desired for the involved individual.
Some improvements have been made on the "push-up" exercise. For
example, The Royal Canadian Air Force has in its well-known and
recommended procedures for exercise prescribed a manner in which
the person starts in a position in which he is kneeling on knees
and arms, i.e., "on all fours, " then pushes the body forward
sliding out along the hands (with arms rigid as possible) until the
entire body, stomach-down, is extended and contiguous with the deck
with arms extended out beyond the head and shoulders parallel to
the deck in assumption of the first extended position. The next
part of this prescribed exercise is then to return, with power
primarily through the arms and hands and by reverse sliding action,
to the original kneeling on knees and arms position with the body
being kept as rigid as possible during the maneuver. This, of
course and as is known by anyone having done it, is a very
difficult and severe exercise.
As an implementation upon and for and improvement with the
above-mentioned and described Royal Canadian Air Force exercise
technique (hereinafter more fully illustrated and described), there
has come into vogue and utilization certain simple devices to
assist in the performance and execution of the indicated style of
exercise in and for physical conditioning. One popular form of this
comprises, in essence, a simple wheel and axle with which the
person making the exercise grasps the axle and rolls out with and
returns upon the wheel rather than sliding back and forth upon the
hands.
The fundamental idea of the Royal Canadian Air Force procedure, per
se, and practice of the improved technique with the wheel and axle
accessory device are approximately the same. And, likewise, the
problem and difficulty for many people doing this exercise is also
literally identical -- and of considerable consequence and frequent
disadvantage. Practically all of this is directly related to the
imperfect or not-as-good-as-desirable condition of the bodies of
many people who do the indicated exercise combined with and
complicated by the mechanical and physical limitations of the human
body.
In other words, as it obviously is, when the arms starting from an
outstretched, extended position perpendicular to the chest and
torso are increasingly moved to a position upright along the head
and then parallel to the body, the leverage and capability for
lifting or lowering the body which is therein involved decreases
greatly. Thus, a person who can push the body in a supine position
directly up from the deck with the arms disposed perpendicular to
the body may not, due to loss of leverage, be able to do so from
the same relative starting point when the arms are extended over
the head and parallel to the body. This, as indicated, is because
of insufficient strength in the last-mentioned disposition of the
body for most people due to the mechanical and physical rules of
leverage which apply to all people and which, in the cases of many
people, may make the indicated exercise(s) extremely difficult, if
not impossible.
For the apparent reasons indicated, the exercise form mentioned
which is advocated by the Royal Canadian Air Force is oftentimes
actually injurious or even disastrous to many people; being often
even more so the case when the wheel-and-axle device for use in
conjunction with the explained variation thereof is employed.
Because of increasing lack of arm leverage as the arms become more
extended towards, over and alongside of the head and also due to
lack of strength in many people to control this, the body during
the indicated type of exercise often fails and collapses more or
less abruptly. This, besides being frustrating or painful, or both,
can sometimes because of the shock and physical distortions
involved result in serious damage to the body in various places,
but especially to the head, neck, elbows, chest and back.
The objective of this invention is to provide an improved and more
practical and beneficial exercise device or appliance for use in
and with the above-described manner of physical manipulation; which
device, amongst the objective(s) of this invention, tends to
eliminate the drawbacks, impracticalities and inherently possible
dangers of doing the indicated style of exercise as heretofore
known.
These benefits are achieved by utilization of a device in
accordance with the present invention which device comprises in
combination with a wheel and central axle, means in operative
association with said wheel and axle for increasingly resisting
rotation of the wheel with and upon increasing rotation of the
wheel.
All of this, and many other features and advantages of this
invention will become and is more fully apparent in the following
description, taken in association with the accompanying drawing,
wherein:
FIG. 1, in a broken away and partly in section perspective, shows
one form already known of the basic wheel and axle device for
execution of the indicated form of exercise which is for the
improvement upon and better performance of the described Royal
Canadian Air Force manner of exercise;
FIGS. 2 through 5, inclusive, illustrate in a figurative and
fanciful manner performance by any person of the
herein-contemplated type of exercise using either the simple,
previously-known wheel and axle device above-explained and shown in
FIG. 1 or with and pursuant to use of the improved device of the
present invention;
FIG. 6, in broken out perspective, shows a preferred form of
embodiment of the improved form of exercise device pursuant to the
present invention;
FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of FIG. 6 in a side view with an
advantageous feature therefor included; and
FIGS. 8 through 18, inclusive, with some partly in section and
others merely schematic and illustrative, indicate and more fully
explain other desirable and advantageous embodiments of the present
invention.
There is shown in FIG. 1 a simple wheel and axle assembly,
generally identified by the numeral 21, for assistance in and for
performance of the known manner, as has been indicated, of exercise
which is, for practical purposes, a variation upon and from the
described style of physical manipulation prescribed by the Royal
Canadian Air Force. In the assembly 21, there is a wheel 22 through
which in a central hub 23 provided therein there is placed and
disposed an axle 24 about which the wheel 22 is rotatable. Of
course, embodiments in which (as in the old-fashioned rolling pin)
the axle is rigidly fixed to the wheel may also, but with less
convenience and greater difficulty to the hands of the user, be
employed. In other words and as appears, the wheel 22 shown in FIG.
1 is rotatable about and around its own axis 24 of generation.
Advantageously and if desired for the comfort of the user,
handle-bar grips 25 of any desired composition may be provided at
and/or inwardly from each end of the axle. For example, the
handle-bar grips that are utilized may be of the type shown and
described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,986. The wheel 22 may be of any
desired material sufficient in strength to support at least the
full weight of a human body. As an illustration, metal (such as
steel, etc., or aluminum), plastic (such as polyethylene,
polypropylene, polystyrene, ABS , etc.) or the like or equivalent
may be utilized. If desired and for reinforcement purposes, the
wheel 22 may be provided with spokes, splines or the like 26.
Advantageously, the wheel 22 is equipped with a solid or hollow --
or even pneumatic -- rubber or the like tire 27 for comfort,
convenience and silence during operation of the device.
It is quite desirable and convenient, particularly for purposes of
storage and/or transportation, if the axle 24 is readily removable
from (and re-insertable into) the wheel 22. For example, in the
simple device illustrated, the axle 24 upon removal of either or
both handle grips 25 can be readily inserted into and taken out
through the hub 23 of the wheel 22.
Although it can be of any desired size, the diameter of the wheel
assembly 21 shown in FIG. 1 (including any tire accessory, if any,
mounted thereon) is between about 5 and 10 inches or so,
advantageously between about 7 and 8 inches. While not critical and
according to the inclination and desire of the user (or
manufacturer) of the wheel, the width is usually on the order of,
say, 1/2 to 2 inches. And even though not shown or illustrated, it
is apparent that more than a single wheel, if desired, can be
provided in pairs or more on and about the same axle.
FIGS. 2 through 5, inclusive, and obviously upon study illustrate
the use of the known wheel assembly 21 (as well as that numbered
generally 41 in FIG. 6 and other equivalents thereof as are
hereinafter more fully described and all pursuant to the present
invention) in exercise and physical conditioning by any person
whose body, for illustrative purposes and shown only figuratively
in FIGS. 2 through 5 is identified generally by reference numeral
30 working upon and over a floor or deck generally indicated by
numeral 31.
FIG. 2 illustrates the start of the exercise, i.e., with the body
30 over and contacting the floor 31 on knees and arms with the
wheel exercise assisting device 21 (or 41, with reference as to
assembly 41 below to FIG. 6 and the following FIGS. through FIG.
18) grasped in hand. The body 30, to commence, is upright on hands
and knees at the start. Then the arms push the wheel assembly 21
(or 41) out away from the body with arms and midsection of the body
being maintained as rigid as possible, knees remaining in position
on the floor 31, while the arms going out commence to assume a
position which finally is such that the arms are over the head and
parallel with the body 10 which is then prone, or near to prone,
with the stomach of the body 30 then parallel with and flat upon or
near to the floor 31.
FIG. 3 illustrates the midway point in this exercise and FIG. 4 the
finish.
FIG. 5 demonstrates the return movement wherein the person with
muscles of the arms and shoulders and other muscles of the body 30
pulls back in the reverse direction on or partially supported by
and with the exercise wheel assembly 21 (or 41) to reassume and
recommence the start position (as shown in FIG. 2) of the physical
manipulation.
Ordinarily, throughout the entire exercise as explained, the wheel
exercise device -- depending upon the length (or height) of the
body of the person employing it including arm reach -- will make
perhaps, as more or less extremes, between 1 and 3 revolutions --
depending, as is apparent, on the precise diameter of the wheel
being utilized and the proportions, as indicated, of the person
using it. In the more usual case, a normally-sized and -utilized
wheel will go between 11/2 to 21/2 (generally about 2) revolutions
each in both the forward and backward directions throughout the
entire exercise cycle.
The described exercise is believed by many to be very good and
beneficial. However, as indicated, it unfortunately involves and
interjects many problems for many users due, as indicated, to the
imperfections and lack of adequate physical strength and stamina to
practitioners of the indicated technique. Primarily and for the
reasons above mentioned, this is due to increasing lack of leverage
for uplifting of the body away from the horizontal as a person's
arms become increasingly extended from a position perpendicularly
away from the chest to one wherein they are extended over the head
and parallel with the torso. This increasing lack of support for
the body as overhead (or towards overhead) extension of the arms is
made is such that in performance of the presently described
exercise, many people upon assumption of the midway or half-way
position illustrated in FIG. 3 lose all control and go abruptly all
the way out to the finish position depicted in FIG. 4; landing
flatly (and painfully -- with sometimes uncomfortable and injurious
physical consequences to many parts of the body) on their face, as
it were. Little imagination is required to comprehend the possible
implications and/or disastrous results of what is here set forth
and described.
Use and application of a wheel exercise device or appliance
pursuant to the present invention significantly reduces and to a
very large measure avoids the problems associated with
presently-known exercise wheels for physical culture and exercise
manipulation of the type described. It makes the indicated type of
exercise using an exercise wheel in concert therewith much more
practical, attractive and relatively safe and devoid of the
above-described problems inherent for many people using, in the
described physical manipulation, an unrestrained exercise wheel of
the heretofore-known type and style.
In essence and as indicated, and in achievement and realization of
the objectives of the present invention and for fulfilment of the
purposes explained, an exercise wheel or appliance or device in
accordance with the present invention comprises and, simply enough,
is an assembly that is: in combination with a wheel and a generally
central axis with said wheel being rotatable about its axis of
generation, means in operative association with said wheel and axle
for increasingly resisting rotation of the wheel with and upon
increasing rotation of the wheel -- all as still further
hereinafter more fully explained.
The achievement of this, all according to and illustrating
preferred embodiments of the invention, are initially shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7.
FIG. 6 illustrates the preferred sort of the exercise wheel device
according to the present invention and designated generally by the
reference numeral 41. In this device, insofar as concerns analogy
to the known embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, there are: the wheel
22 which (optionally, advantageously but not necessarily) may have
thereon mounted a tire or the like 27 through the central part of
which an axle 24 extends. Also in a way analagous to the known
exercise wheel, handle-bar grips 25 may be employed about the axle.
As mentioned, other dimensions and fundamental features of a wheel
device according to this invention are quite often analogous to
those described for the heretofore-known wheel device(s) for
exercise.
However, pursuant to the present invention, the exercise wheel
device of FIG. 6 has, as illustrated, means in operative
association with the wheel 22 and axle 24 for increasingly
resisting rotation of the wheel with and upon increasing rotation
going on of the wheel relative to the axle. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 6, this means is a spiral spring 49 fastened
(or connecting or engaging) at its inner end in any suitable way
through the hub 23 (if one is utilized) at one connection point 50
to the axle 24 and proceeding convolutely about the axle 24 at the
other or outer end of the spring 49 to another connecting point 51
which affixes the outer end of the spring to the wheel, all as is
shown in FIG. 6.
The spiral spring may have and be comprised of as many revolutions
as desired for the purpose. Those skilled in the art will readily
understand this, taking into account that according to generally
applicable principles and knowledge the more turns that are
embodied in a spiral spring the closer it will approach possibility
of a constant torque action. The spiral spring 49 should be made of
any suitable material, such as steel or other metal or equivalent
substance to give the required resistance to turning of the wheel
in a forward direction and the required urging of the wheel
backwards to its original position. Usually, 2 to 5 and preferably
3 to 4 or so spiral turns in the spring are desirable, although, of
course, more or less can be employed. In this connection, it is
ordinarily desirable for the spiral spring 49 to be so disposed and
oriented relative to the forward movement of the wheel 22 about the
axle 24 that the spring unwinds or opens upon such movement and, in
urging towards backward movement of the wheel, that the spring
closes and assumes its original disposition. Nonetheless, the
opposite can be equally utilized; i.e., to have the spring compress
with forward movement of the wheel and in its reverse urging of the
wheel in the backward direction, as it were, to open until return
to the original disposition.
It can be seen that the contemplation involved in and for
accomplishment of the present invention is very easy to comprehend
and achieve when the instant improved wheel exercise device is
employed. Following the illustrations of FIGS. 2 through 5, the
resistance of the spring (or other means) between wheel and axle
minimizes the problem of decreasing lack of arm leverage as the
arms are extended so as to avoid or tend to avoid the difficulty as
above-described of the person losing control abruptly as the arms
become extended more and more over the head and parallel with the
torso. In addition, the return urging of the wheel assembly 41
commencing with the "finish" or essentially full-out position of
the body shown in FIG. 4 and going through the return position
illustrated in FIG. 5 is very much facilitated by the action of the
spring or other means in the wheel exercise assembly 41 to return
the wheel 22 to its original position with the spring or other
means 49 unextended. All of this is done without any material loss
in effect of or detriment to the advantages and desirable benefits
of the presently-contemplated exercise performance.
The optimum strength of the spring or other means utilized in the
exercise wheel assembly device 41 of the present invention depends,
of course, to some measure on the weight of the body of the person
employing the device. While generally for beneficial effect the
strength of the spring should have a resistance to rolling motion
in travel of the wheel along a supporting surface of at least 5
pounds in its unwinding and may have as much as up to 100 or more
pounds, it is advantageous for the resistance of the spring or
other means urging against rotation of the wheel to be between
about 15 or so and 50 - 60or so pounds. Considered in another way,
the strength of the spring or other means resisting unwinding
efforts against rotation of the wheel is desirably between about 10
percent and 90 percent of the weight of the body of the user of the
wheel exercise device 41; preferably between about 20 percent and
50 percent or so. As can be perceived, anyone with some modicum of
ordinary skill can, given the desired strength and characteristics
of the spring or other wheel-revolution-resisting means employed,
readily calculate and provide a suitable strength mechanism for the
purpose.
As mentioned in the foregoing, it is advantageous for the presently
comtemplated types of wheel exercise devices to be dismountable so
that the wheel can be removed from the axle for transportation and
storage. FIG. 7 shows one simple way of doing this using the type
of assembly 41 described in detail in connection with FIG. 6. Thus,
the unfastening point 50 of the spiral spring 49 to the axle 24 can
be accomplished simply enough with a turn-in or projection from the
inner end of the spring 49 so as to fit in and be restrained in a
slot 55 provided in the axle 24. In other words, this may be what
can be described as a "dog-catch" engagement means, i.e., with the
inner end of the spring abruptly deformed and departing from strict
spiral shape into a "hook" portion bent so as to generally provide
a radially inward projecting section at the inner end of the
spring. In this way, the axle can be readily removed from the wheel
and reinserted therein without affecting or disruption of the
spring 49.
With the type of spiral spring assembly described in connection
with FIGS. 6 and 7, the spring 49 can be covered with and by a
flange (not shown) or other protective insert thereover in its
disposition within the wheel 22. In this connection, it is obvious
that more than a single spring can be employed if so desired with
any given wheel (including plural spring installations so arranged
as to have sequential engagement action) and that, as is
above-mentioned and if desired, more than one wheel can be utilized
on and with any given axle in and with any of the exercise wheel
assemblies of the present invention. Along this line, the spring
installation utilized can have any desired resistance profile to
unwinding or compression in case it may be wanted to have in the
progress of movement of the wheel a varying resistance at any point
or points or segment or segments of the wheel rotation in its
travel from the "start" to "finish" positions and, conversely, in
return. Thus, the torque resistance against wheel movement caused
by the spring means need not be constant throughout travel of the
wheel but may, for example, be greater towards the "finish
position" than at the start or may increase or maximize at one or
more segments of wheel travel between the "start" and "finish"
positions. Any and all such variations may follow personal
preferences, if any, therefor and suitable spring construction and
constitution to facilitate same is a relatively straightforward
accomplishment to anyone skilled in the art.
Accordingly and in still further amplification of the thought
expressed immediately-above in the foregoing, one can engineer the
spring installation to provide any desired wheel-movement-
resistance pattern in and for the exercise device assembly 41 of
the present invention. The resistance caused by the spring or
springs (or equivalent means) utilized can be devised to build up
quickly and flatten off, if so desired, or and alternatively
(adding to the above characterizations) to commence slowly and
build up resistance as wheel movement progresses. For the simplest
sort of increasing or decreasing spring torque to resist wheel
movement, tapered spiral springs and the like can advantageously be
utilized.
With further reference to the most desirable strength of the spring
or other wheel-revolution-resisting means to be employed, it is
also apparent that the same for any given person utilizing a device
of the contemplated type is readily measurable and determinable.
Thus, the most beneficial torque on the wheel to secure optimum
results in the exercise for any given person can be readily
estimated or fixed in any of many different ways. For example, a
spring scale can be used in conjunction with a tape around the
diameter of the wheel to determine the desired resistance for the
spring or the like. Such investigation and finding can obviously be
easily made by anybody with an ordinary mechanical inclination to
and for the purpose. Along this line, it can additionally be
readily seen that different strength springs can be readily made
available for the same wheel and axle assembly so as to be capable
of being put in on request to suit the person utilizing the device
after determination of the best spring-resistance or torque on the
wheel assembly desired to have a most advantageous effect with and
for a given person who intends to do the exercise therewith.
In FIG. 8 there is schematically illustrated another embodiment of
the invention showing, as the wheel-revolution-resisting means a
helical torsion spring 60 fixed at one end at the connecting point
50 to and within the axle 24 and at the other end at the connecting
point 51 to the wheel 22. Although not particularized in FIG. 8 for
reasons of maximum simplicity in presentation, it can be
appreciated that in such an assembly there should be a slot or the
like receptacle to accomodate the end of the spring to the wheel
and that the tube comprising the axle should be sufficiently open
at its central, wheel-support portion to permit an arm or other
member to make the connection from the spring end to the wheel.
Such a helical torsion spring 60 as is illustrated in FIG. 8 may be
disposed within only one side of the axle or, alternatively -- even
though not so shown -- within the full length of the axle with
suitable connections being made between spring and wheel.
Another advantageous manner for providing the
wheel-revolution-resisting means in the exercise device assembly 41
of the present invention is illustrated, again schematically, in
FIG. 9 which shows the assembly in cross-section. For and in such
embodiment, a torsion bar 65 is disposed throughout the internal
length of the axle and fixed at its ends to the axle by connecting
means 50 and centrally through a suitable fastener 66 to the wheel
at connecting point 51. As is apparent, rotation of the wheel
causes turning of the torsion bar which resists the rotation and
urges return of the wheel to its original position.
Alternatively, as is illustrated in FIG. 10, a torsion bar 65 can
be utilized through only half or less of one side of the axle
through connecting points 50 and 51 to provide a similar means and
result.
FIG. 11 shows another advantageous variation of the torsion bar
effect. In this case, as is again schematically depicted in FIG.
11, the wheel-revolution-resisting means is comprised of a stranded
cable 70 affixed to and at its ends within the axle 24 at
connecting points 50 and through a suitable fastening means 66 to
connecting point 51 in the wheel 22. Advantageously, as is
illustrated in FIG. 13, the stranded cable 70 employed is a
seven-strand cable, although a cable having any desired number of
strands may be utilized. When a stranded cable 70 is utilized, it
is desirable for it to be end-loaded in tension within the axle 24,
since restrainment at its ends for and from the fixed distance of
the cable eliminates tendency of a cable wheel-revolution-resisting
means to kink. Although, somewhat analogous to the situation
involved when a torsion bar wheel-revolution-resisting means is
used, it is generally better when employing a cable to have it
extend the full (or nearly approaching full) length of the axle; a
cable extending from one end or equidistant from one end of the
center of the axle to the approximate axle center within the wheel
may also be used. Actually, it is possible in some cases to use to
advantage an off center cable since, as the rotation of the wheel
proceeds the moment exerted on the cable -- or the leverage thereon
-- would tend with the rotation to change from maximum to minimum
to maximum durated in any given 360.degree. revolution pattern.
Actually, in embodiments of the sort schematically and most simply
illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 10 and 11 it is literally for all
practical purposes necessary to employ a two-part axle element to
allow for connection between the resilient element (such as torsion
bar, spring or cable) disposed longitudinally within the axle and
the wheel itself by means of some suitable linkage piece. This, as
will appear, can be provided by means of a pivot with bearings in
the wheel or by means in combination with such an arrangement of
independently fixed handles. The cross-sectional illustration of
FIG. 12 depicts one figuratively-shown way of achieving this. In
FIG. 12, the wheel 22 is mounted and supported on a two-part axle
24 (having handle-bar grips 25 at each end) which is centrally
flanged at the interior end of each part or piece of the axle to
permit attachment anf fixing of the wheel to the axle (in, for
example, the simple manner of engagement illustrated). The
resilient torsion bar, spring, cable or like element 65 is
connected and secured from its central portion through a bar, rod
or other equivalent connector 66 to and through fastening means 68
(of any desired and practical sort) to the interior of the wheel
22.
FIG. 14 illustrates yet another variation of embodiment for means
to resist the rotation of the wheel 22 in the exercise assembly 41
according to the present invention. In such embodiment, the
wheel-revolution-resisting means is comprised of generally radially
extending flexible resilient elements 80, provided in numbers from
1 to "X" as may be desired, connected at point 51 to the wheel
through points 50 directly to the axle 24 or, if desired and as is
shown in FIG. 14, to a piece or fixture 81 about and either
permanently or removably affixed to the axle. The manner of
connecting the resilient elements 80 directly between the axle 24
or a transmission piece 81 and the wheel 22 may be in any of many
ways, as desired and appropriately suitable for the purpose. In
addition, as is also the case with all the other embodiments of the
present invention, it is within ordinary skill to have the axle in
such a particular variety of assembly 41 removably inserted within
the wheel.
The resilient elements 80 may be suitably-strengthened rubber bands
or the like disposed between the connecting points 50 and 51 in the
manner suggested by the illustrations of FIGS. 14 and 15 or, if
preferred, may be single, suitably-affixed extensible and resilient
members in the form of rods, straps, bars or the like. They may, as
desired and for utilization pursuant to the depictations of FIGS.
14 and 15, be made of natural or synthetic rubber or other
equivalent and satisfactory elastomeric and resilient plastic or
synthetic materials or they may be in the form of spiral metal
springs or the like (as is particularly illustrated by the coil
spring resilient element 91 in FIG. 16).
The above-mentioned FIG. 15 shows a variation from the embodiment
depicted in FIG. 14 in the number and type of flexible resilient
elements 80 utilized in an embodiment according to the invention.
In FIG. 15, three elements 80 using appropriate fastening means of
any desired sort affixed directly to the axle are illustrated. As
mentioned, any desired number of such flexible resilient elements
beginning with one may be utilized and the strength of each such
element proportioned according to number and to the desired
wheel-revolution-resistance called for.
FIG. 17 illustrates a wheel exercise assembly 41 according to the
present invention in a rotated position showing the flexible,
resilient element 91 (of the type described in connection with FIG.
16) in an extended and withdrawn position. In such position, as
appears, the element 91 (or its equivalent) tends to urge with
appropriate torque return action the counter-revolving and
replacement of the wheel to its original position.
Other embodiments of the wheel exercise device of the present
invention can also be fabricated and utilized, particularly those
wherein in certain frequent cases, although not necessarily so, a
generally larger wheel is employed having a more or less
eccentrically located axle so as to give the added advantage with
the wheel-revolution-resisting means the benefit of a cam effect.
As a variation in such a case and as is shown in FIG. 18, the wheel
itself can actually (and especially when a larger wheel diameter
variation is used) be shaped in the form of a cam -- designated by
the reference numeral 101 in FIG. 18 -- or it may merely be a
complete wheel with the eccentrically positioned or effected axle
(the last-mentioned possibility being not shown or illustrated in
the Drawing since it construction and arrangement is easily
perceivable). In any case, the added cam effect of such an
embodiment tends to restrict rotation of the wheel as the person
pushes out during the above-described exercise (even though the
body position may assume a slight angle from the horizontal) and a
desired tendency to roll back and restrict the outward thrust of
the exercising body is experienced.
As will appear to those skilled in the art, other embodiments of
the wheel exercise assembly of the present invention can be devised
whereby, for example, the wheel-revolution-resisting means is
comprised of pneumatic or hydraulic mechanisms operating between
the axle and, by way of illustration, an inflatable tire on the
wheel to restrict revolution and urge the wheel back to an original
position.
Many obvious changes of and modifications in the various features
and elements involved in and for practice of the present invention
can be readily entered into and realized. Therefore, it is to be
fully understood that the invention is not to be limited to or
restricted by the several illustrative embodiments and particulars
that constitute part of the foregoing description and
specification. Rather, knowing the stated intention hereof, the
invention is to be interpreted and liberally construed in the light
of what is recited and set forth according to the definition and
meaning of the hereto appended claims.
* * * * *